MOLES.  Thank you, sir!

STEVEN. [Writes in note book.] I’ll put in an order to buy for you the first thing in the morning; and you have your money down at my office by ten o’clock, can you?

MOLES.  Yes, sir, I can get off in the morning.  I can’t thank you enough, sir!

STEVEN.  Oh, that’s all right,—­we’ll be a rich household here before we get through, Moles.  They’ll be telephoning us to please send in some orders for champagne!

[Puts note-book away.

MOLES.  Oh, don’t trouble about these bills, sir.  I can hold off the people a little longer, and I’ll order the wine in another place.

STEVEN.  That’s a good boy, Moles, then I won’t have to bother my sister.

MOLES.  Yes, sir.

[He goes out as GEORGIANA and the children enter Left.

GEORGIANA.  Here’s papa!  Come along, now, Steve, I’ve promised the children a game of hide and go seek!

STEVEN.  All right, I knew father wanted to do something very much,—­only couldn’t think what.  Of course, it was hide and seek!

GEORGIANA.  Philip must be “it” first!

PHILIP.  All right!

[PHILIP goes into the corner Right, with his back to the others.  All hide behind or under the different pieces of furniture—­GEORGIANA under the table, TOOTS back of the rocker, STEVEN under the sofa, etc.

PHILIP. [Impatient.] Are you ready?

[Pause.

CHRISTOPHER.  Not yet!

[Getting behind curtains Centre window.

PHILIP.  Now are you ready?

[LIZZIE comes in Left, as soon as STEVEN hides under sofa.

GEORGIANA.  Not yet!

[Getting under the table.

LIZZIE.  Mr. Carley, please, sir!

STEVEN. [Putting his head out from under the sofa.] Yes, Lizzie?

CHRISTOPHER.  Don’t turn round, Phil, it’s only Lizzie.  Wait!

LIZZIE.  Excuse me, but Mr. Coast sent me upstairs to see—­

STEVEN.  Oh, by George, yes! [Coming out from the sofa.] I forgot.  I must go back down town.

PHILIP.  Oh, pshaw!

[About to turn.

GEORGIANA.  Don’t turn, Phil!

CHRISTOPHER.  No, the rest of us is hid!

STEVEN.  I’m sorry, children!  Father’d a great deal rather play hide and seek, but he’s got to go to work.  It’s just like when you’d rather play but have to study!

PHILIP.  When I get growed, I shan’t never do anything I don’t want to.

GEORGIANA.  Then you’d be the most wonderful person in the world, and they’d put you in wax in the Eden Musee!

STEVEN. [Kissing PHIL, then CHRIS, then TOOTS.] Good-by, dears.

THE CHILDREN. [Dolefully.] Good-by.

[STEVEN crosses to the door Left.

GEORGIANA.  Never mind, I’ll finish with you.  Don’t turn around, Phil.